Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-16
SUPERVISING SCHOOLS.
Topics Discussed AT the Meeting OF
school superintendent To-day.

school superintendent To-day.
ERs-DIsCUsSIOS OF THE TEST SYSTEM OF SCHOOL
sUPERvIsIoN-A CALL ON THE PRESIDENT
The national department of superintendence
crowded two sessions into one this morning in
order to adjourn at one O'Clock In time to make
call upon the President. There was very good
| attendance of members when the convention as
sembled at the National museum little before
ten O'Clock. The first topic for discus
sion was "POwers and Duties of Off,
GERS ana Teachers, Absolute and Relative. ~
The paper discussed the powers OF school officers
and teachers granted by law or by usage. DR.. A..
T. Marble, superintendent of schools at Worcester,
Mass, presented paper ON this subject DR.. B.
\. HinSdae. OF Cleveland, opened the discussion,
and was followed by o. E. Latham, school super
intendent of Danville, ILL.,. and j. NJ Green SUPER
intendent OF schools at Long Branch, -. Mr..
Green in his remarks discussed the relations OF
trustees superintendent and teachers. The trust
held by the trustee was. he said twO-fOld in its
nature, financial and educational In the appli-
cation OF school MONEYS the powers OF the trus-
TO the educational function the powers OF the
board should be absolute as to general
| trustees should have the power to
select the superintendent, who would be re-
SpOnsible TO the board for general results. 1t was
one OF the absolute duties OF the superintendent,
ne claimed TO arrange q course of studies 1t was
inconsistent he claimed, to require the best re-
suits OF professional superintendent and at the
same time prescribe the means by which he was
TO attain these results. 1t was the duty OF the
superintendent to ascertain the efficiency OF those
teacher TO maintain discipline in the school room,
and TO apply the general rules Of the schools to
the pupils under his charge. In relation to the
selection OF teachers he said he regretted to see
that there was In some cities disposition to make
place OF residence qualification for appointment
He thought such restriction no more reasonable
ployed In any other professional capacity or in
DR. W. E. Sheldon. of Boston. president of the
National Educational association, spoke also on
the subject.
LET THE TEACHERS ALONE.
Col F. W. Parker, OF Illinois; w. n. Barringer,
OF Newark, n. j., and Hon. L. s. Cornill, state SUI
perintendent of Colorado, also spoke ON the sub
ject. Mr. Barringer said that the greatest thing
for teachers was freedom from restraint and ever
lasting supervision. He advised superintendent
to keep out OF the way and let the teachers exert
some individuality. Give the teachers liberty to
think. and act and to teach, and the wOrld will be
ringers sentiments. Mr. j. Ormond Wilson, pre-
sented an invitation TO the members from MIR. and
Mrs. W. ID. Cabe to lunch at their residence, 12l4
18th street, this afternoon and the invitation was
promptly accepted.
SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
The next topic was ''The best system OF county
and city school supervision The Introductory
paper was read by Dr. E. E. Higbee, state superin-
tepdent of public instruction OF Pennsylvania.
Generally, he said, the supervision OF what he
called external matters OF educational work was in
the hands OF boards OF education. This included
liking the salaries of teachers. selecting school
Sites sc. The internal matters OF school work, the
examination of teachers methods OF instruction,
&C, required distinct supervision. What the super
intendent needed was the power OF putting the
right teacher in the right place The boards were
not always qualified to select textbooks or to de-
termine the range OF studies. They should not he
said, have sole jurisdiction In these internal mat
tiers OF school work
MECHANICAL METHODS.
W. r. Cornings, school superintendent OF Nor
walk, Ohio, presented paper on the subject. He
said that the danger OF any system OF supervision
was that OF running into merely mechanical meth
DDS. The superintendent should not be mere
compiler of statistics; to the pupil these things
that take SO much OF the time OF the teacher are
of no value. Nor should the superintendent be
mere examiner Correct and efficient supervision
called for an educational leader, person OF broad
ideas, person who would suggest ideas. Such
DDS.
Mr. H. S. Jones, school superintendent of Erie,
Pa, said that the main reason OF weakness in the
schools Is the frequent change OF directive powers.
They wouldn't run sawmill or grocery by
changing the directory every two or three years,
owing to this frequent change, he thought the
schools, and especially county schools needed all
they could get in the Way OF supervision.
Prof. W. ii. Bartholomew, of Louisville, said that
that supervision was the best which did not seem
TO SupervSe-thes supervision Of the superintendent
who had the genius to awaken the activities OF
those under him.
Before adjourning one OF the members presented
an invitation from a photographer to make a
group photograph OF the members. Another
member complained that in the group made last
year the hOmely and thin men were put in front.
He suggested that the handsome men, Col. Parker,
DR.. Marble, Mir. Barr1nger and Mr.. Jones be put at
the front.
The convention then adjourned to call on the
President, and will reaSSemble tonight to discuss
industrial education.
Among the new arrivals to-day were Mr. B. NJ
Zettler, superintendent of schools at Macon, Ga,
and W. II. Shelley. superintendent OF schools OF
York, Pa.